Bray Wanderers -v- Longford Town

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Mon, Oct 28 2013




BRAY WANDERERS

After suffering defeat on Friday night Bray Wanderers now must contest a play off which, over the course of two games, will decide if the Seagulls will play their football in the Premier Division or the First Division in 2014. Kick Off in the Carlisle Grounds is 7.45pm.

 

Director of Football Pat Devlin spoke after Friday night's disappointing result which allowed UCD and Bohs to live to fight another year in the Premier Division of Irish football.

 

"We played very well for the first half hour or so and once again didn't take our chances and after that our play fizzled out."

 

Pat Devlin received another blow with the news that Danny O'Connor is set to miss tonight's game although the Seaside club will have an otherwise fully fit squad.

 

Sean Hurley, Sean Noble, Michael Brown and Adam Cox have all been added to the squad for this massive game as Devlin does have concern over some knocks suffered on Friday night.

 

LONGFORD TOWN

Longford will travel to County Wicklow in buoyant mood after recording a penalty shootout victory over Mervue United on Friday night. The Town witnessed one of their biggest crowd of the season as 999 people flocked to the City Calling Stadium to see this memorable game.

 

A win over the two legs and the subsequent promotion back to the big time would surely mean a big financial increase in the budget for Longford. Longford will be without Corrie Treacy for both of the legs after he was handed an additional two game ban by the FAI. No other team news has been made available by Longford Town at this time.

 

The man that will have been giving Pat Devlin nightmares since Friday night will be Longford's David O'Sullivan who is wanted by a number of Premier Division clubs. It would be hard to imagine O'Sullivan staying a Longford player even if he does help the Town get promoted.

 

Longford were top of the league for most of the first half of the season before they suffered a major midseason slump before regaining the form necessary to guide them into the play offs.

 

Referee: Unknown

 

 

MATCH FACTS

These teams have played each other 27 times in their histories with Bray coming out victorious 44.4% of the time, Longford on the other hand have a 29.6% winning rate while a draw has been the outcome on 7 occasions.

 

The last time these two sides took on each other was back in 2009 in the FAI Cup when Bray came out on the right side of a 2-1 score line. The last league game between these sides was even further back in 2007 when it was Longford that emerged the victors winning 1-0.

 

David O'Sullivan won the First Division golden boot award after notching up a tally of 21 goals during the First Division season while he also managed to convert on three occasions in the play off second leg including one spot kick during the penalty shootout.

 

 

BETTING

Bray Wanderers 4/5 Draw 9/4 Longford Town 3/1

 

PREDICTION

Going to go against the Bookies and predict a Longford victory as Tony Cousins men will still be on a high after Friday night's victory.

 

 

Bray Wanderers

Injured: Danny O'Connor
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None

 

Longford Town

Injured: Unavailable
Doubtful: Unavailable
Suspended: Corrie Treacy (for both legs)